heath hen
The "heath hen" was a bird species that lived in the northeastern United States but is now extinct.
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Definition
C1Ornithology
(technical, historical)An extinct subspecies of the greater prairie chicken that inhabited the heathlands of coastal North America.
Example
- The heath hen was last seen in the wild in the early 20th century.
- Conservation efforts came too late to save the heath hen from extinction.
B2General
(informal)A bird species that lived in sandy areas with low vegetation and is now extinct.
Example
- The heath hen's unique mating display was a notable feature of its behavior.
- Heath hens once roamed the coastal barrens from New Hampshire to Virginia.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "heath hen":